Is it possible that back pain can be inherited like heart disease? It seems like everyone in our family suffers from this problem.

This question has been raised by scientists around the world. But the studies on this topic are very limited right now. And the results from these studies don't agree. Some studies report there is a familial link with back pain. Others did not detect a positive relationship.

Most recently, a group of researchers in Western Australia set up a large study of 14 year-olds and their family caregivers. Through a process of several surveys and physical exams of over 1600 teenagers, data was collected and analyzed. They found that factors such as parent age, gender, income, and stress levels weren't linked with the child's back pain.

The chances of developing back pain went up when both parents (or both caregivers) had back pain. And the more family life stress events that were present, the greater the likelihood that the teen would experience back pain. Low-income families with significant life stress were more likely to suffer back pain.

How much is genetics and how much can be linked to psychosocial or behavioral factors is unclear. For now, the familial link appears to be real. Future studies will seek to find specific factors that are involved. These could include beliefs about pain and behaviors in reaction to pain. Lifestyle factors such as diet and activity levels will also be studied.